The Divine Art of Erasing Age and Creating Vitality (continued ...)

Cleansing The Body From Within

Health is easy to maintain if you know and practice the laws of keeping the body well, rather than starting the effort to heal yourself only after you become sick.

The first step is to get rid of the poisons that have accumulated in the system.Fasting is an ideal method of accomplishing this - for example, three days on Orange juice and ground almonds, with natural laxative. Repeat this after one month. If you spend time and effort necessary to cleanse the body from within, you will quickly find the truth of what I (Paramahansa Yogananda) am telling you about preserving youth.

Most of you are dying of disease because of overeating day after day, and eating the wrong foods. The less meat you eat the better - especially after you turn forty, because it takes much energy to clean your own blood as well as what you ingest from the animal's, which may carry many toxins or harmful chemicals. Meat has some good qualities, but it is better to eat meat substitutes. Meat takes too long to digest and pass through the body; that undigested protein creates an acid condition in the body that is destructive to kidneys. Many persons have kidney trouble and do not know it; yet the impaired function of these purifying filters inevitably hasten old age. Fruits and vegetables,including raw salads of lettuce and other greens, help to counter act harmful acid-forming foods - as well as aiding elimination.

Make it a habit to eat more fruit. It is made for you by God. It is packed with energy and healing power. You will not have constipation, which is one of the worst enemies of health; and your body will not look haggard. Fruits have definite effect on the mind. Vibrationally, fresh fruits in the diet help to produce spirituality, even more than vegetables. An abundance of fruit will make your mind much more clear and calm. Watermelon, for example, is helpful for those who are cranky. More fruits and vegetables will get rid of whatever headaches and pains and cranky dispositions come because of eating too much meat. Of course, these conditions may also be caused by other factors; but the point is, to remain youthfulness and calmness in body and mind, you should eat those foods that lessen and remove the accumulation of toxins in the body.

Another point is to change the type of meal you take at night. It is best to take the heavier meal at noon, not late in the day. In particular, drop the habit of eating much protein at night. Instead, have more fruits or light vegetable dishes for the evening meal.

(to be continued in next post)